VirginiaHJ22025 Regular SessionHouse

Constitutional amendment; qualifications of voters, right to vote, persons not entitled to vote.

Sponsored By: Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker (Democratic)

Adopted

Summary

Constitutional amendment (first reference); qualifications of voters; right to vote; persons not entitled to vote. Provides that every person who meets the qualifications of voters set forth in the Constitution of Virginia shall have the fundamental right to vote in the Commonwealth and that such right shall not be abridged by law, except for persons who have been convicted of a felony and persons who have been adjudicated to lack the capacity to understand the act of voting. A person who has been convicted of a felony shall not be entitled to vote during any period of incarceration for such felony conviction, but upon release from incarceration for that felony conviction and without further action required of him, such person shall be invested with all political rights, including the right to vote. Currently, in order to be qualified to vote a person convicted of a felony must have his civil rights restored by the Governor or other appropriate authority. The amendment also provides that a person adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction as lacking the capacity to understand the act of voting shall not be entitled to vote during this period of incapacity until his capacity has been reestablished as prescribed by law. Currently, the Constitution of Virginia provides that a person who has been adjudicated to be mentally incompetent is not qualified to vote until his competency is reestablished.

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Elizabeth B. Bennett-Parker

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 238 • No: 173

Senate vote • 1/31/2025

Agreed to by Senate

Yes: 21 • No: 18

Senate vote • 1/30/2025

Reading waived Block Vote (on 2nd reading)

Yes: 39 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/28/2025

Reported from Privileges and Elections

Yes: 8 • No: 7

House vote • 1/14/2025

Motion to pass by Delegate Cherry Amendment #1 agreed to

Yes: 52 • No: 47

House vote • 1/14/2025

Motion to pass by Delegate Cherry Amendments #2, #3 agreed to

Yes: 51 • No: 48

House vote • 1/14/2025

Agreed to by House

Yes: 55 • No: 44

House vote • 11/13/2024

Reported from Privileges and Elections

Yes: 12 • No: 9

House vote • 2/9/2024

Continued to 2025 in Privileges and Elections (Voice Vote)

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0601)

    3/24/2025Governor
  2. Assigned Chapter 601 (Effective 07/01/25)

    3/24/2025House
  3. Signed by President

    3/10/2025Senate
  4. Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ2ER)

    3/7/2025House
  5. Signed by Speaker

    3/7/2025House
  6. Enrolled

    3/7/2025House
  7. Agreed to by Senate (21-Y 18-N)

    1/31/2025Senate
  8. Read third time

    1/31/2025Senate
  9. Reading waived Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N)

    1/30/2025Senate
  10. Passed by for the day

    1/30/2025Senate
  11. Rules suspended

    1/30/2025Senate
  12. Reported from Privileges and Elections (8-Y 7-N)

    1/28/2025Senate
  13. Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections

    1/15/2025Senate
  14. Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

    1/15/2025Senate
  15. Laid on Clerk's Desk

    1/15/2025Senate
  16. Received

    1/15/2025Senate
  17. Agreed to by House (55-Y 44-N)

    1/14/2025House
  18. Engrossed by House

    1/14/2025House
  19. Delegate Cherry Amendments #2, #3 passed by

    1/14/2025House
  20. Motion to pass by Delegate Cherry Amendments #2, #3 agreed to (51-Y 48-N)

    1/14/2025House
  21. Delegate Cherry Amendment #1 passed by

    1/14/2025House
  22. Motion to pass by Delegate Cherry Amendment #1 agreed to (52-Y 47-N)

    1/14/2025House
  23. Taken up

    1/14/2025House
  24. Passed by for the day

    1/13/2025House
  25. Reported from Privileges and Elections (12-Y 9-N)

    11/13/2024House

Bill Text

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